Improvement in fire-escapes



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOST STENGEL, OF BIG RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN Fl RE-ESCAPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 201,567, dated March 19, 1878; application filed July 27,1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osT STENGEL, of Big Rapids, in the county of Mecosta and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form partof this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of afire-escape, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

. In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved fire-escape. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with the side plate removed. Fig. 3 is a section through the drum, showing the brake.

A represents a suitable frame-work, to be attached on the outside of a building, in close proximity to the window, either above, below, or at the side of the same. a is a shaft, having its hearings in the frame A, and one end thereof projecting beyond the frame for the attachment of a crank, B, to turn the same. On this shaft is secured a drum, 0, to which a flat pliable band is attached and wound around the same. This band may be of any suitable length, and is to be made of metal, woven wire, or other suitable material.

The drum 0 is located within a casing, E, secured to one of the side pieces of the frame, and said casing has an aperture, 6, in one side, through which the band passes out. The band passes from the drum 0 through the opening 0 in. the casing, and over a flanged pulley, G, which is mounted on a stud, 12, projecting from the side at one end of the lever G. This lever ishollowed out or curved, as shown, passes over an enlargement on the shaft, and is, at its other end, pivoted by journals d in the frame.

It will readily be seen that if a person or other objectis suspended from the end of the band D, the drum 0 will be turned by the weight, so as to unwind the band and allow the person or object to descend. As the band passes over the pulley G, the lever G is, of

course, brought down upon the shaft 0, and acts as a brake to prevent the too sudden descent of the person. The tension or pressure of this brake depends upon the weight of I wheel H rotates with the shaft and operatesthe escapement, and the weighted arm acts as a pendulum or governor to regulate the speed, no matter how light or heavy the descending person or object may be.

In connection with this fire-escape I propose to use a kind of garment or harness, especially for ladies when compelled to use this fire-escape. made of strong cloth, in the form of leggins, with armholes at the top, and a loop for hanging it on a hook at the end of the band D.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a fire-escape, the combination of a drum, secured upon a shaft, a band attached to and wound around said drum, a lever pivoted at one end and passing over the drumshaft, and a pulley mountedat the other end 7 witnesses.

J 0ST STENGEL. Witnesses:

WILLIAM S. GRAY, O. W. NOTTINGHAM.

This harness or garment is to be 

